Jumpstart Your Career...

Do you have career goals, but are unsure how to attain them? Maybe you don't know exactly what it is that you ultimately want to do, but you know that you don't want to do what you're doing now for the rest of your life. Great. You've already taken the first step in realizing your career path!

Take 30 minutes to assess your strengths. Struggling with this one? There are a lot of books and tools available to help you, but you can also ask friends, co-workers and your managers what they think you're good at. Write down what they tell you. Then look at the lists for patterns. Think about how your strengths have helped you do so far in your career. Which ones would you like to build upon?

Now find jobs that interest you, regardless of whether or not you feel qualified for them right now. How could you apply your current skills to those positions? Are there skills you need to acquire? What would it take to acquire those skills? Break it down into small steps to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Alternatively, try talking to people who have the jobs that interest you. Ask them how they got their start and the steps they took to advance their career. You may find their insights invaluable as you chart your own course.

Here's a bit of inspiration for you. Our very first Star Performer, Esther Kang started as the receptionist for MDSC. Within months she moved onto the Claims Analyst position (claim submission, payment posting and initial account follow up) and last year became the Business Office Manager. Basically, Esther took full advantage of training offered to her and consistently performed her job well. Today, Esther is realizing the rewards. You can do it too!

Do you have a career story you would like to share? Tell us your story through Star Performers.